Sustainable development not possible without rule of law: Rajnath

New Delhi: The Centre has reiterated its commitment towards sustainable development through rule of law and to provide environmental governance and take policy-based decisions.

Delivering the valedictory address at the conclusion of the three-day International Conference on Rule of Law for Supporting 2030 Development Agenda here on Sunday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Sustainable development is not possible without rule of law and that peace and harmony are essential for sustainable development. The global community has noted the need to reduce violence in all forms and promote rule of law at both, the national and international level.”

The Home Minister said, “The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by more than 190 nations in September last are complex and enormous to achieve. The world today feels the need for an ever more proactive, responsive, innovative and inclusive approach towards development.”

He emphasised that in a world where prosperity and material wealth is held by a small minority, the SDGs should be more focused on reducing the gap between the haves and have-nots.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to provide environmental governance, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar highlighted the need to take policy-based decisions and not indulging in discrimination.

“The processes will be transparent and aimed at ensuring compliance, where the judiciary can be a guiding force and can ensure compliance,” he said, adding that the executive and judiciary must work together to ensure sustainable development.

The minister emphasised that poverty eradication is the goal, both for the judiciary and the executive and pointed out that the nation needs both – environmental protection as well as growth.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Coal, Power and Non Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said the government remains committed towards making the nation energy-efficient in a sustainable manner.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure safety and protection of environment, even as the government moves towards ending poverty and achieving 24×7 power for everyone. The Minister said that the cess of Rs. 400 per tonne on clean coal is being used for ‘Namami Gange’ and for encouraging the use of renewable energy.

Highlighting some of the initiatives of his Ministry, Goyal said the government aims to provide 24×7 affordable energy for everyone by the year 2019.

Recalling the Prime Minister’s announcement on August 15, 2015 on setting the target of providing electricity to 18,452 villages within 1,000 days, Goyal said out of this, 6,114 villages have received electricity, adding that work in another 924 villages has been completed.